Tarantulas of AP in Red List of IUCN : Gooty Tarantula critically endangered

By U Sudhakar Reddy

Two tarantulas (spiders) from Andhra Pradesh areplaced in the Red List of International Union for Conservation ofNature (IUCN) as critically endangered species. Smuggling of thespiders out of the country is posing a serious threat to the survival ofthe spiders.Gooty Tarantula found in the Nallamala in Kadapa and Regal Tarantulafound in the Eastern Ghats are in the list.

The Red List of threatened species released in World ConservationCongress at Barcelona found that out of 53 species of Tarantulas inIndia 14 are in the list of which eight are threatened with extinction andrest are either data deficient or least concern species.IUCN Central India Co-ordinator and Zoologist Mr C Srinivasulu said,"These spiders are integral part of the biodiversity and control insectpopulations including agriculture pests. In human dwellings they helpin controlling pests like cockroaches, flies and mosquitoes.Large-bodied spiders called tarantulas are in trade and many westernerskeep them as pets.Till October 2008, the Indian large-bodied tarantulas were notprotected as a result there had been cases involving smuggling of thesespecies from India to cater to world market.In Andhra Pradesh as per the Red List, the Gooty Tarantula is criticallyendangered, Regal or King Tarantula is Least Concern and NallamalaTarantula and Anantagiri Tarantula are Data Deficient species. The Gooty Tarantula has been reported from a very few locations inSouthern Nallamala Hills, Kadapa, the Regal Tarantula is known frommany locations in the Eastern Ghats of the State, while the NallamalaTarantula is restricted to certain locations in Central Nallamala Hills inKurnool district, while the Anantagiri Tarantula seems to be commonin the northern Eastern Ghats of the State."We have asked AP Biodiversity Board to include them as threatenedspecies in Andhra Pradesh as per section 38 of AP Biodiversity act.They will be given protected status then." said Dr Srinivasulu.

Kalpavriksha(adansonia) face threat on NH-9 extension

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Mythological Kalpavriksha known as Baobab trees are facingextinction due to the extension work of National Highway 9 from Hyderabad toVijayawada.As per botanists there are only eight such trees aged hundreds to thousands of years ofold in the State and mostly distributed in Krishna district along the highway. There is onetree in Golconda in Hyderabad and other near Hayatnagar in Ranga Reddy district.Scientist found that tree with several medicinal properties is facing serious threat to roaddevelopment works. Baobab is scientifically known as Adansonia digitata and known asKalpavriksha as the tree that provides food, water, shelter and has medicinal values.Mr A Ravi Kiran a research fellow with National Remote Sensing Centre in the city said,"We have found there are six plants in and around Krishna district. One them is locatedat Share Mohammedpet, four at Chillakallu and other one at Machilipatnam. Centre hasdecided to extend NH-9 and this is now posing a big threat to rare species of the plantdue to habitat loss,"Mr Ravi Kiran said that the tree is a native of Africa and it bears very large and heavywhite flowers. "the tree stores several litres of water and during extreme dry conditionpeople used to depend on it for water. they are pollinated by fruit bats. Their fruits arefilled with pulp and after drying it looks like dry bread. Kalpavriksha means wish fulfillingtree. It looks like upside down with branches appearing as roots,"Ecologists have asked AP Forest and Environment department to conserve these plantsfor ecological sustain ability. Botanists from Vijayawada are also working on tissueculture of the plant.One of the tree aged 700-year old situated near Golconda fort in the city has a 36 squarefeet hollow and accommodate at least 12 persons.According Environmental Information System on Medicinal plants of the centre thesetrees are medicine plants and are used in Ayurveda, Folk, Unani and Sidha medicinalsystems.Baobab tree leave have several magically medicinal properties and can be used invarious deficiencies of calcium, vitamin B-1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin), andVitamin C. Few leaves of Baobab everyday can help in supplementing the nutritionalneeds Botanists said. It has also anti allergic, anti asthmatic and anti malarial propertiesand used for gastro intestinal disorders like constipation and acidity."the roots can also be tapped for water. Water collected in trunk was source of water fortravellers earlier," said Ravi Kiran. The tree near Hayatnagar was facing extinction dueto Out Ring Road officials said. Vernacularly in Telugu it is also known asBrahmamalika.

Efforts for conservation of Pulasa fish germplasm

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

A P Biodiversity Board has began the process of the preservation ofgermplasm of Queen of the fishes locally known as Pulasa found in Godavaribackwaters.The fish germplasm is being preserved due to the increased threat of pollution inGodavari river and the high rate at which it was sold due to non abundance. Pulasa is sold at the rate of Rs 2000 to Rs 2500 per Kg.AP Biodiversity Board Chairman Dr R Hampaiah said ,"It is most sought after fish. Evenseveral Ministers from Hyderabad get that Pulasa on special order by spending largeamount. The fish swims upstream the river water and it tastes delicious during thisperiod,"The board took up the project of preservation of germplasm of Pulasa variety found inGodavari backwaters."Like cat fish imitating murrel there is a fish now sold in the markets appearing similar toPulasa. We have to preserve the DNA of Pulasa as it has great bioresource value likeJapan Tuna fish," said Hampaiah.Dr Hampaiah said ,"we have taken initiatives as per Biological Diversity Act2002. Geographic indications which decides the patent rights of a particular thing in thenew IPR regime. This prompts us to be ready with a geographically referenced databaseto challenge any conflict which may arise in the future for genomic rights on our ownspecies with geographical indications,"The fish is usually found from June to August in the backwaters in Godavari.Senior Zoologist Mr V Babu Rao said ,"it is known as Hilsa Ilisha and migrates from seawater to fresh water for breeding. It is an Indian Shad. It is found in areas likeBhimavaram during rainy season like this,"The AP Biodiveristy Board will take the help of local fisheries department officials andNational Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources at Lucknow to conserve it.Senior scientist Dr Rajiv Mathew said ,"It is bony and oily fish. The oil fights lot ofdiseases including removal of bad cholesterol,"The fish swims from seat to fresh water for 50 to 100 kilometres usually and sometimesup to 1500 kilometres. It is one of the fastest swimmers covering 71 km in a day.Germplasm preservation techniques is used by cryopreservation in aquarium fisheswidely as they have biomedical research value and ornamental fish trade.

Nannari(rayalaseema sharbat plant) is now endagnered

By Udumula Sudhakar Reddy
The Nannari plant, from which the famous Rayalaseema sharbat is made, has been listed among endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Apart from the Nannari plant, 46 other species from the State have also been put in the red list by the IUCN.
“Most are medicinal plants collected from forests,” said Dr K.P. Srivasuki, CEO of the AP Medical and Aromatic Plants Board. “There is no accounting how much is collected.” Nannari, for instance, is facing threat because of over-exploitation and habitat destruction.
Scientifically known as Decalepis hamiltonii, Nan nari is seen in the deciduous forests of Kurnool, Chittoor, Nellore, Anantapur and Kadapa district in AP, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
“Sharbat is extracted from the roots,” said Dr R. Hampaiah, chairman of the AP Biodiversity Board. “The roots are boiled in water and the extract is used to prepare the juice by mixing sugar, lemon and ginger. It has a cooling medicinal property and protects the body from heat and summer ailments.” He added that Nannari has to be cultivated by farmers to bring it back to sustain able levels.
“It is sometimes mixed with alcoholic beverages and a soft drink giant is now using to prepare a herbal drink,” said Dr Hampaiah.
“The Anantapur Biodiversity Management Committee has issued notice to the company seeking royalty.” Nannari provides relief from intestinal ailments such as acidity and constipation and is a natural coolant.
Dr Srivasuki said the AP Medical and Aromatic Plants Board was offering subsidy schemes to the farmers to grow medicinal plants.